TUF 18 Cast Member Chris Beal Returns vs. Patrick Williams at UFC 172

The Ultimate Fighter 18 cast member Chris Beal will make official Octagon debut at UFC 172 on April 26 when he squares off with Patrick Williams.

Beal on Tuesday morning informed MMAWeekly.com of the fight.

“Hard work is fun work. I’m just excited and blessed to have this opportunity,” he said via text. “Now it’s time to do what I do best… fight my ass off!”

Beal (8-0) won his elimination fight to make it into The Ultimate Fighter house as part of UFC champ Ronda Rousey’s team, but suffered a broken hand en route. He ended up losing to eventual show winner Chris Holdsworth in his next bout.

Holdsworth and Davey Grant, the two finalists, were the only season 18 male contestants selected to immediately join the UFC roster. Beal, however, returned to BAMMA USA after his hand healed and knocked out Keith Carson, earning a trip to Baltimore for UFC 172.

Williams (7-3) is no slouch though, and won’t be an easy debut fight for Beal. Having established himself as a heavy hitter as a CFA and XFC veteran, Williams enters the bout with Beal coming off of a knockout finish of Rafael Dias, who is a WEC and Bellator veteran.

Williams is also making his Octagon debut.

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones puts his belt on the line against Glover Teixeira in the UFC 172 main event on April 26 at the Baltimore Arena.